Igniting composition for matches.



UNITED sTATns PATENT OFFICE.

MAIN, GERMANY, ASSIGNORS TO OHEMIS'OHE FABRIK GRIESHEIM ELECTRON, OFFRANKFORT-ON-THE-MAIN, GERMANY.

IGNITING COMPOSITION FOR MATCHES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 25, 1905.

Application filedAugust 17, 1903. Serial No. 169,786.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, OTTO DIEFFENBAOI-I and EDUARD O. MARBURG, subjectsof the German Emperor, and residents of and having our post-officeaddress at 11 Hochstrasse, Griesheim-on-the-Main, Germany, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Igniting Oom positions forMatches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention consists in the employment of suboxid of phosphorus (PlO)(see lVatts Dictionary 0 f C/mnistry, London, 1877, Vol. IV, page 523)in the preparation of the igniting composition for matches. Subox'id ofphosphorus can be readily and cheaply prepared by dissolving yellowphosphorus in carbon tetrachloriol and passing dry air through theslightly-heated solution, suboxid of phosphorus being precipitated 'inthe form of a very fine yellow powder (see Drmmners Jfimual )ofInorganic Chemistry, Vol. IV, page 319.

Matches manufactured with suboxid of phosphorus in the ignitingcomposition are readily ignited by striking them on either hard or softsurfaces-such as cloth, for exampleand suboxid of phosphorus is therefore more suitable for the manufacture of readily-ignitible matches thanare any of the bodies hitherto proposed as substitutes for yellowphosphorus.

Suboxid of phosphorus has the great advantage over compounds of sulfurand phosphorus that it is not decomposed by water even if boiledtherewith. In contact with moist air suboxid of phosphorus undergoes avery slow oxidation, just as red phosphorus does; but as the suboxid ofphosphorus is in the match surrounded by a layer of glue or the likeexcluding theair an alteration of the suboxid of phosphorus in the matchitself cannot take place. The igniting composition prepared with suboxidof phosphorus can be so light in color that the composition can becolored by the addition to it of any required coloring-matter.

While igniting compositions may vary widely in the nature of theirconstituents, they consist, essentially, of a firing compound which maybe ignited by friction or other- Wise, an inactive material operating asa dilu- (lZIl1l}- such as chalk, powdered glass, and the 1 e theconstituent ingredients of the composition together and securing them tothe matchstick.

The following are examples of how this invention may :be carried out inpractice; but the invention is not limited to these examp es.

I. Light-colored igniting compositions to which coloring-matter may beadded:

1. Ten parts suboxid of phosphorus, forty parts potassium chlorate,seven parts chalk, twenty-five part-s powdered glass, five partscolophony, eighteen parts glue.

2. Ten parts suboxid of phosphorus, forty parts potassium chlorate, sixparts gypsum, four parts chalk, twenty-five parts powdered glass,sixteen parts glue. This is the preferred composition, as the additionof gypsum makes the matches more durable and gives a flame which is notblackening, and also the mass can be colored at will.

II. Dark-colored igniting compositions:

1. Ten parts suboxid of phosphorus, fiftyeight parts potassium chlorate,five parts lead dioxid, five parts chalk, twenty-five parts powdrlaredglass,'two parts colophony, sixteen parts g ue.

2. Ten parts suboxid of phosphorus, fiftyeight parts potassium chlorate,seven parts ferric oxid, five parts chalk, twenty-five parts powderedglass, sixteen parts glue.

We claim- 1. An igniting composition containing suboxid of phosphorusand gypsum.

2. An igniting composition containing suboxid of phosphorus, potassiumchlorate and gypsum.

. 3. An igniting composition containing suboxid of phosphorus, potassiumchlorate, adilucut, a binder and gypsum.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

OTTO DIEFFENBAOH. EDUARD O. MARBURG.

Witnesses:

FRANZ HASSLACHER, MICHAEL VOLK.

and a binder, such as glue, for holding

